Who wrote the explosive NYT op-ed? Social media investigates

Twitter users attempt to uncover the identity of the "senior official" who penned a critical op-ed about President Donald Trump in the New York Times on Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2018.

Twitter users attempt to uncover the identity of the "senior official" who penned a critical op-ed about President Donald Trump in the New York Times on Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2018.

Photo: Twitter Screen Grab

Photo: Twitter Screen Grab

Image
1of/29

Caption

Close

Image 1 of 29

Twitter users attempt to uncover the identity of the "senior official" who penned a critical op-ed about President Donald Trump in the New York Times on Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2018.

Twitter users attempt to uncover the identity of the "senior official" who penned a critical op-ed about President Donald Trump in the New York Times on Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2018.

Photo: Twitter Screen Grab

Who wrote the explosive NYT op-ed? Social media investigates

1 / 29

Back to Gallery

Around 1 p.m. Wednesday, the New York Times published an anonymous op-ed penned by a "senior official" in the Trump Administration. Minutes later, the world attempted to determine who the unnamed writer could be.

The anonymous individual claimed "many of the senior officials" in the administration are "working diligently from within to frustrate parts of his agenda and his worst inclinations." The "root of the problem," the writer said, "is the president's amorality."

It is incredibly rare for the Times, or any reputable newspaper, to publish anonymous op-eds.

Now Playing:

An anonymous “senior official in the Trump administration” is claiming to be part of a network of appointees and others who are working to thwart President Donald Trump from inside his own White House.

Media: Time

Social media users rose to the challenge of determining the identity of the so-called "senior official," with many questioning what such a title entails in the first place (cabinet member? adviser?)

Some think the clues are in the text itself.

Use of the uncommon word "lodestar" points to Vice President Mike Pence, or one of his speechwriters, one man surmised. References to economic policies indicates Secretary of the Treasury Steve Mnuchin, guessed another.

"I think Jarvanka (Jared and Ivanka Trump) are trying to speed this nightmare to it's eventual conclusion," wrote Diana Isabella. "They have an exit plan in place."

Even former Trump advisor Omarosa Manigault weighed in on the story, claiming she "gave clues" to the identity of the writer on page 330 of her recently published book about the administration, "Unhinged." She included the hashtag #SilentArmy in the tweet.

"Sooner or later we are gonna find out who the anonymous NYT op-ed writer is," tweeted Karen Attiah. "He/she will [be] hailed as a hero. Will get a book deal. Cable TV gigs. Harvard fellowships."

"The predictable rewards for having your Trump cake and eating it too."

See some of Twitter users' guesses of the anonymous writer's identity in the above gallery. Have a guess of your own? Let us know in the comments.